Patrick Ewing 'disappointed' he's still not a head coach yet

Patrick Ewing could only watch as Jason Kidd gained a head coaching position only nine days removed from retiring from the NBA while Ewing, another former NBA great— and after a decade of bouncing around the league in various coaching and broadcast positions after calling it a career— was the bridesmaid once again.

Ewing was named this week as an associate coach with the Charlotte Bobcats to assist new head coach, Steve Clifford — despite his close relationship with team owner Michael Jordan.  Ewing said he still "disappointed" he has never become a head coach but claims he holds no grudges.

“I’m disappointed,’’ Ewing said on WFAN’s “Boomer & Carton” show of not getting a head-coaching opportunity yet. “Naturally everybody who does this thing, the goal is to be a head coach. I felt I’ve paid my dues, worked hard, studied hard with the goal of trying to become a head coach.

“I’m disappointed it hasn’t happened yet. All I can do is keep on working and keep on hoping someone one day will have faith in me like the way they have faith in Jason that they can get the job done. In terms of Jason, I’m very happy for him. They believe he can get it done and [I]wish him luck.’’

Ewing has even patched up any differences that may have existed with the Knicks organization which may have been leftover from him demanding a trade after the 1999-2000 season.  He has worked a few Knicks postseason games for the Madison Square Garden network, sat next to owner James Dolan at a couple of games and indicated that  he will be back with his former team in some capacity.

“My relationship with the Knicks is fine,’’ Ewing said. “Mr. Dolan has been very good to me. He gave me a great opportunity to do some TV. I cherish the opportunity maybe one day in near future, I’ll be back in the organization. I have no problem with the Knicks. I have no problem with the Dolans and it’s fair to say they have no problems with myself.’’

Ewing wasn't so keen on being tossed a bone and coaching in the D-League.

“I wasn’t offended,’’ Ewing said. “I didn’t want to be a coach in the developmental league. I wanted to be a coach in the NBA. The opportunity wasn’t in my best interest."

For real though I'm mad J Kidd got a head coaching job a year after retiring n my pops been coaching 10 years n barely gets a look
— Patrick Ewing Jr (@pewingjr6) June 13, 2013

As far as his son [Patrick Jr.] tweeting he was “real mad’’ at Kidd’s hire while his father has received just two head-coaching interviews, Ewing said, “I told him he needs to get rid of his Twitter account. All he’s going to do is end up in trouble. I appreciate it. I love him to death, but I don’t need him to fight my battles.’’